The East Coast Truckers Club was formed way back in June 1981, it was born out of the need to combat the relentless way that the then Post Office or its direct subsidiary British Telecom set about ridding the world of truck drivers illegal communicating with one another via black market two-way radios. These two-way radios were to be universally known as C.B. (Citizen band) Radio.

The C.B. was quite legally supplied at very many electrical outlets, but as soon as the poor old trucker used the apparatus he was breaking the law.

So about half a dozen Norfolk based truckers organised a meeting with the aim of setting up a club and a severance fund, that would help truckers who were tracked down and prosecuted by Busby, Busby was a cartoon character enlisted to promote the quite new organisation B.T.

The first meeting was held, a committee formed and fund raising started. It was not long before the newly formed club had a membership exceeding 200 truckers. The club had a social wing that was becoming as popular amongst truckers as the severance fund.

Dinner Dances, Disco Evenings, Treasure Hunts, Quiz Nights, Children's Parties and various outings were just some of the events that truckers could enjoy if they became a member.

After a few months it was decided to raise funds for causes out side the club, it was not long before very many people and organisations were benefiting from the generous and hard working truckers. The organisational skills of the truckers was becoming quite famous, they attempted and succeeding in holding a 3 day event, the event consisted of a Country Music Weekend, a Caravan Weekend and a 3 day Clay Shooting event.

In 1986 the truckers embarked upon their biggest and by far their most famous event. 1986 was the first year of the East Coast Truckers Children's Convoy. The first convoy had just 22 trucks and no police escort and only a few people stopped to watch it go by. What a different story today, now it has up to 90 trucks and over the past 18 years more than 1500 children have enjoyed the convoy, more than 100,000 people line the route and every media group reports its success. The truckers also went on to raise even more money for deserving causes, they raised money in very many different and sometimes quite unique ways, talent shows and concerts were but a few of the ideas employed.

In 2001 they decided to go for charity status, it goes without saying that they were successful and the East Coast Truckers Charity was born. Although it is very early days they are quite confident that they will continue to grow and prosper, thus helping many more children and families. They are also attracting large and prestigious firms as regards sponsorship deals, no mean prospect for a bunch of truckers who were only looking for a bit of insurance against the authorities.

Now, in 2008, we have a magazine, a newsletter, merchandising, our own exhibition trailer promoting the charity, and now we have a website, born from the popularity we have gained

Funny old world is it not.